Heating and ventilating system for car bodies



June 13, 1944. 1.. E. BLUE HEATING AND VENTILATING SYSTEM FOR CAR BODIES Filed July 16, 1941 Fmm' a r Essen an" INVENTOR. .Zff/ ?/0@ Patented June 13, 1944 HEATING AND VENTILATIN G SYSTEM FOR CAR BODIES Lebert E. Blue, 'leaneck, N. 1., assiznor to Transit Research Corporation, New York, N. E, a corporation of New York Application July 16, 1941, Serial No. 402,692

9 Claims.

This invention relates to heating and ventilating systems for street cars and like vehicles and has for its primary object to utilize the heat generated by the electric energy dissipated in the of the air is returned to the car body while the remainder is utilized to ventilate the motors. It is also possible for the entire quantity of air withdrawn from the car body to be returned control resistance of the traction motor circuit thereto while the motors are ventilated by outduring acceleration and deceleration, while at side air. Under the last named circumstances the same time maintaining the resistance at a the amount of air withdrawn from the car body safe operating temperature. is decreased while the amount returned is in- In some respects the present invention consticreased. tutes an improvement on the heating and venti- Another object is to provide a system such as lating system disclosed in Patent No. 2,178,644, described immediately above wherein all of the which discloses a heating and ventilating system several functions recited are subject to autowherein heat generated in the motor control rematic control. sistance is recovered in part to heat the interior Other objects and advantages will become more of the vehicle. fully apparent as reference is had to the accom- An important object of the invention is to propanying drawing wherein my invention is illusvide a heating and ventilating system wherein trated and in which air withdrawn from the interior of the car body Fig. l is a schematic cross section of a street is divided with a part passing through a comr dy taken alon the line l-l of Figure 2 partment containing the motor control resistillustrating the present ventilating system, and ance and another part passing through a duct Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the air blowing which is adapted to be connected to the vehicle and controlling means. motors for ventilating the same. More specifically, l designates a street car Another object is to provide a system such as body having a floor 2 and a compartment 3 above described embodying automatic means for 5 disposed therebeneath which is divided into two directing the air which passes through the resections 5 and 6 by a. transverse partition 4. The sistance compartment either to the atmosphere car body has an intake ventilator l in its top or the carbody. When the air is passed back which communicates with the interior of the to the interior of the body the system functions body at 8, and has one or more hollow pier posts as a heating system whereas when theLair is 115- 9 which communicate both with the interior of charged exteriorly of the body it functions to the car body a "1 n t e pa m nt ection maintain a flow 01 air through the body and as 5 at H. The compartment section 6 has air ina resistance cooling system. take louvres I! through which outside air may Another object is to provide a system having enter the compartment. automatic means which functions under low tem- Disposed in the compartment section 5 is an perature conditions for decreasing the rate or air blower l3 having two inlets l4 and I5 comwithdrawal of air from the car body while at municating with the compartment sections 5 the same time increasing the fiow of air through and 6 respectively, and two outlets l6 and H. the resistance compartment and into the car The blower rotor is ordinarily connected to the body. In this respect the invention provides a 4 armature of the motor-generator set of the compartment which is divided into two sections, street car for actuation thereby. The outlet i6 is one of which is adapted to receive air from the connected to a motor control resistor compartinterior of the car body and the other of which 'ment I8 having an outlet l8a, and the outlet i1 is adapted to receive air either from the first has a duct lla connected thereto which conveys section or from the outside atmosphere. Air therefrom to the ventilating system of the tracblowing means is provided which has two inlets tion motors of the street car. The rotor of the connected to respective sections and two outlets blower I3 is divided by a transverse partition l9 connected respectively to the resistance compartso that air from the compartment section 5 is 'ment and-to a duct adapted to lead to a motor directed to the outlet I6 and air from the secventilating system. A valve is provided in the tion 6 is directed to the outlet H. The outlet I6 second section for connecting the adjacent blower is preferably larger than the outlet l1 and the inlet with either the outside air or with the first partition is is disposed accordingly so that a compartment section. With this arrangement it greater volume of air will be discharged from the is possible for both inlets to receive air from the outlet it than from the outlet ll. interior of the car body, in which case only part Mounted in the compartment section 6 is a baflle 2|) and a pivoted flap valve 2| which is movable from a position contacting the partition 4 to a position contacting the baffle 20. When the flap valve 2| is in contact with the partition 4 air may enter the louvres l2 and pass around the baflle2|l to the blower intake I5. When the flap valve is in contact with the baflle 20 air from the compartment 5 may pass through the opening 4a and enter the blower intake 55, the baflie 20 and flap valve 2| extending throughout the height of the compartment 6. The flap valve 2| has an operating arm 22 connected to the piston 23 of an air motor 24 having a spring 25 for retracting the piston and for moving the flap valve into contact with the baflle 20.

The air motor 24 is controlled automatically by a thermostat 26 disposed in the resistor compartment which under predetermined temperature conditions is adapted to close a switch 21 in circuit with the battery 29 and a solenoid 3d. The solenoid 30 is connected to a spring actuated valve 3| which when moved by the solenoid connects the pipe line 32 leading to the air motor 24 with an air supply line which is connected to the usual air reservoir (not shown) which is present on street cars. When air is directedv to the motor 24 the flap valve 2| is moved into contact with the partition 4.

The air discharged from the resistor compartment outlet |8a is directed either to the interior or the exterior of the car body by a flap valve 34 which is adapted to be moved in one direction by a spring 35 and in the other direction by an air motor 36. Air to the motor 36 is controlled by a valve 31 which is actuated by a sole- -noid 38 which is in circuit with the battery 29 and controlled by a thermostatic switch 39 located in the interior of the car body. When the switch 39 is opened the valve 31 is actuated to disconnect the motor 36 from the air pressure line 33 so that the spring 35 moves the flap valve 34 to a position where the air which is heated by passing through the resistor compartment is directed to the interior of the car body.

When the flap valve 2| is in contact with the baille 2|! air withdrawn from the passenger compartment enters the compartment section 5 and part of this air is discharged from the blower outlet l6 while another part passes through the partition opening 4a and is discharged out the outlet At this time the pressure in the compartment 5 will be below atmospheric because it is feeding both blowers. If the temperature in the resistor compartment rises above the predetermined limit the thermostat 25 functions and the flap valve 2| is moved into contact with the partition 4. When the flow of air through the opening 441 is thus prevented by the flap valve 2| one blower is fed from outside air through the louvres l2 and the negative pressure in the compartment section 5 is reduced with the result that the quantity of air discharged to the resistor compartment is increased. At this time air received through the louvres |2 will be pumped to the motor ventilator duct Ila.

A second switch 40 is actuated by the thermostat 26 when an excessive temperature is reached in\the resistor compartment for energizing a warning signal 4| to warn the operator. The switch 21 may be of any conventional type which maintains contact during an amount oi. relative movement between its terminals and its contactor. As illustrated it is contemplated that the contactor of this switch be made of flexibl metal to maintain contact with the terminals as the rod of the thermostat 28 is depressed after initial contact. It is by further depression of the rod that the switch 40 is closed.

A condition may arise wherein the temperature of the air entering the intake ventilator 'I is so cold that it reduces the air temperature to a point too low for a comfortable car temperature even though the valve 34 is in a position such that all available heat from the resistor compartment is being directed to the interior of the car body. To correct this condition a thermostatic switch 42 is connected in a second circuit with the battery 29 and the solenoid 30. When the temperature falls to a point which may be predetermined the switch 42 closes, energizes the solenoid 30 and actuates the valve 3| so that air is supplied to the air motor 24 and the flap valve 2| is moved into contact with the partition 4. The quantity of air taken from the car body and through the intake ventilator I is thus reduced by reason of the fact that only the blower inlet |4 receives air from the compartment section 5.

It will be seen that the thermostat 42 and the contacts 21 of the thermostat 25 are in parallel with the battery circuit to the solenoid 30 and magnet valve 3|. When either circuit closes the same action is produced on the damper 2|. In addition to the control by the thermostat 42 the car body temperature is also controlled by the thermostat 39, as described.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is understood that changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention and such changes are contemplated.

What is claimed is:

l. A ventilating system for a street car having a body with an intake ventilator and a compartment containing a. motor circuit resistance, comprising dual air pumping means, one of said pumping means having its outlet connected to said resistance compartment, a passageway leading from said resistance compartment to the interior of said body a common air duct means connecting each of said dual pumping means with the interior of said car body whereby each is effective to withdraw air from said car body and whereby both set up a negative pressure in said common duct, and means responsive to temperature conditions in said resistance compartment for disconnecting the other of said dual pumping means from said common air duct whereby the negative pressure therein is decreased and a greater quantity of air is passed through said resistance compartment by the first of said dual means.

2. A ventilating system for a street car having a body with an intake ventilator and a compartment containing a motor circuit resistance, comprising dual air pumping means, one of said pumping means having its outlet connected to aid resistance compartment, a passageway leading from said resistance compartment to the interior of said body a common air duct means connecting each of said dual pumping means with the interior of said car body whereby each is eflective to withdraw air from said car body and whereby both set up a negative pressure in said common duct, and means responsive to temperature conditions in said car body for disconnecting the other oi said dual pumping means from said common air duct whereby the negative pressure therein is decreased and a greater quantity of air is passed through said resistance compartment by the first of said dual means.

3. A ventilating system for a street car hav ing a body with an intake ventilator and a compartment containing a motor circuit resistance, comprising dual air pumping means, one of said pumping means having its outlet connected to said resistance compartment, a passageway leading from said resistance compartment to the interior of said body, a common air duct means connecting each of said dual pumping means with the interior of said car body whereby each is eifective to withdraw air from said car body and whereby both set up a negative pressure in said common duct, means responsive to temperature conditions in said resistance compartment for disconnecting the other of said dual pumping means from said common air duct whereby the negative pressure therein is decreased and a greater quantity of air is passed through said resistance compartment by the first of said dual means, and means responsive to temperature conditions in said car body for disconnecting said other dual pumping means from said duct means independently of said last named temperature responsive means.

4. A heating and ventilating system for a passenger carrying vehicle having a body and an air compartment comprising a blower section and a section containing a motor resistance, the system comprising duct means for conveying air from the interior of said body to said blower section, dual air blowing means in said blower section having individual inlets and outlets, the inlet of one of said dual means being open to said duct means and its outlet leading into said motor resistance section, an inlet for the other of said dual means, valvular means operative to either of two positions to connect the last named inlet either to said duct means or through a wall of said compartment directly to the atmosphere, an outlet for said other dual means leading to the ventilating system for the traction motors of the vehicle, a passageway for conveying air from said motor resistance section to the interior of the body and thermostatically controlled means for operating said valvular means from each its positions to the other. i

5. A heating and ventilating system for a passenger carrying vehicle having a body and an air compartment comprising a blower section and a section containing a, motor resistance, the system comprising duct means for conveying air from the interior of said body to said blower section, dual air blowing means in said blower section having individual inlets and outlets, the inlet of one of said dual means being open to said duct means and its outlet leading into said motor resistance section, an inlet for the other of said dual means, valvular means operative to either of two positions to connect the last named inlet either to said duct means or through a wall of said compartment directly to the atmosphere, an outlet for said other dual means leading to the ventilating system for the traction motors of the vehicle, a passageway for conveying air from said motor resistance section to the interior or the body, electrically operated means controlling movement of said valve to its diiferent positions, and a thermostatic switch located in said resistance section for controlling said electrically operated means.

6. A heating and ventilating system for a passenger carrying vehicle having a body and an air compartment comprising a blower section and a section containing a motor resistance, the system comprising duct means for conveying air from the interior of said body to said blower section, dual air blowing means in said blower section having individual inlets and outlets, the inlet of one of said dual means being open to said duct means and its outlet leading into said motor resistance section, an inlet for the other of said dual means, valvular means operative to either of two positions to connect the last named inlet either to said duct means or through a wall of said compartment directly to the atmosphere, thermostatically controlled means for moving said valvular means to either of its two positions, an outlet for said other dual means leading to the ventilating system for the traction motors oi the vehicle, a passageway for conveying air from said motor resistance section to the interior of the body and a second valvular means in said passageway alternately operative to either of two positions to connect said blower outlet with the interior of said body or to vent the air therefrom to the atmosphere, thermostatically controlled means for moving said second valvular means to either of its positions.

7. A heating and ventilating system for a passenger carrying vehicle having a body and an air compartment comprising a blower section and a section containing a motor resistance, the system comprising duct means for conveying air from the interior of said body to said blower section, dual air blowing means in said blower section having individual inlets and outlets, the inlet of one of said dual means being open to said duct means and its outlet leading into said motor resistance section, an inlet for the other or said dual means, valvular means operative to either of two positions to connect the last named inlet eitherv to said duct means or through a wall of said compartment directly to the atmosphere, thermostatically controlled means for moving said valvular means to either of its two positions, an outlet for said other dual means leading to the ventilating system for the traction motors of the vehicle, a passagewayjor conveying air from said motor resistance section to the interior of the body, a second valvular means in said passageway alternately operative to either of two positions to connect said blower outlet with a duct leading to the interior of said body or to vent the air therefrom to the atmosphere, and means' responsive to the temperature in said body for operating said second valvular means.

8. A heating and ventilating system for a passenger carrying vehicle having a body and an air compartment comprising a blower section and a section containing a motor resistance, the system comprising duct means for conveying air from the interior of said body to said blower section, dual air blowing means in said blower section having individual inlets and outlets, the inlet of one of said dual means being open to said duct means and its outlet leading into said motor resistance section, an inlet for the other of said dual means, valvular means operative to either of two positions to connect the last named inlet either to said duct means or through a wall of said compartment directly to the atmosphere, thermostatically controlled means for moving said valvular means to either of its two positions, an outlet for said other dual means leading to 4 2,ss1,ocs

the ventilating system for the traction motors oi the vehicle, a passageway for conveying air irom said motor resistance section to the interior of the body, a second valvular means in said passageway alternately operative to either of two positions to connect said blower outlet with a duct leading to the interior of said body or to vent the air therefrom to the atmosphere, and a thermostatic device responsive to the temperature in said resistance section for controlling the first named valvular means.

said dual means, valvular means operative to either of two positions to connect the last named inlet either to said duct means or through a wall of said compartment directly to the atmosphere, an outlet for said other dual means leading to the ventilating system for the traction motors of the vehicle, a passageway for conveying air from said motor resistance section to the interior oi the body, a second valvular means in said passageway alternately operative to connect said blower outlet with the interior of said body or to vent the air therefrom to the atmosphere, a thermostatic device responsive to the temperature in said resistance section for controlling the first named valvular means, and a further thermostatic device located in the car body for controlling said first named valvular means in supersedence of any other control thereover adapted for operation during extraordinarily low temperatures in said body.

, LEBERT E. BLUE. 

